I decided to watch Shotgun Stories because Michael Shannon stars in it, but I was unaware that Jeff Nichols debuted as a director in Shotgun Stories. Nichols went on to direct Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special and the upcoming Loving, which I am eager to see in theaters. Shotgun Stories feels like it exists in the same universe as Mud, which I objectively considered to be a good movie, but not my cup of tea.
Shotgun Stories reminds me of a Shakespearean tragedy if Shakespeare was born in Arkansas. A man, who is a husband and a father, and his two brothers struggle with the inadequacy of who they are compared to who they want to be. They reach a turning point, and the man is ruled more by emotion and the past than wisdom and the present. His action leads to a chain of understated, but devastating series of events. Because the majority of Shotgun Stories feels more like a slice of rural life than a Biblical tale like Cain and Abel and the events occur suddenly and are not glamorized, the senselessness of this cycle shocks the participants as much as the viewers. By the end of Shotgun Stories, people accept and redefine who they are to escape the shackles of the past and the sins of the father.
Shotgun Stories influenced Blue Ruin even though Shotgun Stories is even more realistic, understated and ultimately optimistic. Theoretically I would not mind rewatching Shotgun Stories and focusing solely on the character Shampoo, who seems to be the pot stirrer. I cannot determine if he is the devil, a petty man annoyed that the brothers won’t let him park his car on their property or just a busy body devoid of common sense. I will probably not rewatch Shotgun Stories because while I can appreciate its artistry, I am not interested in the themes presented in the story regardless of their importance.
Shotgun Stories is a rural Shakespearean tale with Biblical undertones that Mud and Jeff Nichols’ fans will enjoy.